Hand racket



Jan. 20, 1925.

HAND RACKET Patented Jan. 20, i925.

UNITED STATES GEORGE RITTENHOUSE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Application filed August 1G, 1923.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE Rrr'rnNHoUsn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand Rackets, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relat-es to devices to be employed in playing various games of hand ball, and the object is to provide a device which can be mounted on the hand, so that a free wrist movement can be given and the hand itself will act as a backing when the ball is struck, while aresilient surface is provided to insure a quick rebound of the ball or its initial movement under speed when struck.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a rear elevation of one embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure l,

Figure 3 is a front elevation.

In the embodiment disclosed an encircling ring frame 4 is provided, which is shown to be of general ovoidal shape, though the form thereof may be varied, as desired. Mounted within this frame is a resilient striking wall 5 which may be of strung gut, wires, or other woven material, such as wicker, rattan and the like, the Stringing being sufficiently tight to secure the necessary resilience.

Extending across the rear side of the wall and spaced therefrom is a bridge piece G, which is preferably bowed rearwardly as illustrated in Figure 2, and is thus spaced from the striking wall 5. This bridge piece 6 is suitably secured to the opposite sides of the frame 4 and may be held in place by clips 7 secured to the frame, and extending over the margins of the bridge piece. The bridge piece has on its rear face a glove member 8, which may be carriedby a face piece 9 that extends over the bridge piece 6. This glove member preferably is provided with truncated lingers 10, and has a wrist strap 11 located at one end of the frame.

In using the device, the hand of the player is inserted in the glove member and is secured at the wrist by the strap 11 which is provided with a buckle 12 or other suitable fastener. The hand is thus directly behind the resilient striking wall, and it will be evident that said wall can be firmly HAND RACKEI.

Serial No. 657,700.

held and easily directed, inasmuch as the movement thereof can be made from the wrist. It moreover provides a large area against which the ball may be struck. Obviously the device may be employed in various games of ball, and the striking wall can either be made of gut for ordinary playing or of some material unaffected by moisture so that the implement can be utilized in the water for water sports.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any o-f the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is z- 1. A device of the character set forth comprising an open frame, a woven striking wall extending across the space within the same, a bridge piece of less area than the space within the frame extending across the same and secured to the frame, and means on said bridge piece for holding the device.

2. A device of the character set forth comprising an open frame of generally elliptical form, a striking wall extending across the space within the same, a bridge piece of less area than the space within the frame extending'across the same and secured to the frame, and means on said bridge piece for holding the device.

3. A device of the character set forth comprising an open frame, a striking wall extending across the space surrounded thereby, a bridge piece of less area than said space extending thereacross and secured to the rear side of the frame, and means for engagement by the hand mounted on the bridge piece and including a wrist strap at one end of the frame.

4. A device of the character set forth comprising an open frame of generally elliptical form, a striking wall of woven material extending across the space surrounded thereby, a bridge piece of less area than said space extending thereacross and secured to the rear side of the frame, finger G. A device of the character set forth, coiiiprisinT a resilient striking n'ieinber, u bridge of less urea than the striking member extending across the rear of the striking ineinber, and spaced hand and wrist engaging straps on the bridge piece.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signuture.

GEORGE RITTENHOUSE. 

